Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new early learning and childcare provision at Heriot Primary School in the Scottish Borders; believes that the setting has been established in response to growing demand for early learning and childcare in Heriot and surrounding villages; acknowledges the collaborative efforts of Scottish Borders Council, the school staff, the parent council and the wider community in bringing the project to fruition; notes the ambition to further develop outdoor learning opportunities as the setting grows; believes that high-quality early years provision plays an important role in supporting children and families while helping to sustain and strengthen rural communities; welcomes what it believes will be the positive impact that the new nursery will have on school enrolment and the long-term future of Heriot Primary School, and wishes the children, families and staff every success for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates The Steam Packet Inn, in the Isle of Whithorn, on being named the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Scotland Pub of the Year; recognises that this is a significant achievement for the business, its staff and the wider south of Scotland; notes that the pub will now go forward to represent Scotland in CAMRA’s UK Pub of the Year competition, having secured its place among the 16 finalists across the United Kingdom; acknowledges what it considers to be the important role that community pubs play in bringing people together, supporting local economies and attracting visitors to rural and coastal communities; commends the dedication of the owners and staff in creating a welcoming venue that showcases the very best of Scottish hospitality; recognises the work of CAMRA and its volunteers in championing pubs, breweries and real ale across Scotland, and wishes everyone at The Steam Packet Inn every success in the next stage of the competition.

That the Parliament welcomes NSPCC Scotland’s Read, Write, Relationships campaign, which calls for all children and young people in Scotland to be guaranteed access to high-quality healthy relationships education; understands that, as children and young people across Scotland return to school this term, many face a gap in their timetables where healthy relationships education should be, and believes that consistent, relevant and developmentally-appropriate healthy relationships education helps children and young people understand both healthy and unhealthy behaviours, prevents abuse and neglect, and helps build positive school cultures.

That the Parliament welcomes the success of the 2026 Summer School programme delivered by the Monklands Replacement Project; notes that more than 60 S4 to S6 pupils from across Lanarkshire participated in three programmes covering construction, clinical care and facilities management; understands that pupils attending the construction programme learned about project management, quantity surveying, building surveying, cost control and workplace safety, and also visited the site of the proposed new hospital; further understands that the clinical programme introduced pupils to nursing, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy through the care journey of a patient who had experienced a stroke; welcomes the introduction of an additional off-site programme for pupils unable to attend the hospital-based events, which explored how facilities management roles support safe patient care; believes that practical learning of this kind can build confidence, widen young people’s understanding of the careers available to them and connect classroom learning with real workplaces; commends everyone involved in delivering the programme, and wishes the participating pupils well for the future.

That the Parliament commends South Lanarkshire Council for achieving energy savings and avoiding energy costs of over £1 million over two years; celebrates the resulting reduction in carbon emissions; understands that these savings were achieved through no or low-cost, climate-friendly adjustments to heating and building controls across the council’s property estate; welcomes the increased availability of funding for frontline services as a result, and encourages other local authorities to follow South Lanarkshire Council's example in reducing costs and climate emissions, particularly in light of projected energy price rises.

That the Parliament commends The Depot in Dumfries and Galloway on the production of a cookbook, which highlights the creativity, resilience and cultural richness of the individuals and communities involved; recognises what it sees as the invaluable contribution that migrant and displaced communities make to the cultural and culinary life of South Scotland, enriching local food traditions and fostering greater understanding and inclusion; celebrates Refugee Week as an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact of welcome, solidarity and community connection; notes that the launch of The Depot’s cookbook and accompanying exhibition at the Midsteeple Quarter Standard Building in Dumfries marked the beginning of a week of celebration across Dumfries and Galloway; further notes that these events will culminate in the Dumfries International Street Food Festival event in Castle Douglas on 20 June 2026, and acknowledges that these events have grown from a desire to welcome and support displaced people in Dumfries and Galloway, promoting community cohesion, cultural exchange and a shared sense of place.

That the Parliament congratulates the cyclists who participated in the Sandgreen to Berwick-upon-Tweed Coast-to-Coast challenge to raise money for Fleet Bay Inshore Rescue Service; understands that the approximately 130-mile challenge raised over £9,000 for the charity, which has been operating since 1974, and further understands that the money will be used to invest in upgrades to ensure that the charity can meet the needs of HM Coastguard and continue to help people in need.

That the Parliament congratulates Mrs Galbraith of Annan Academy for receiving the Proud Scotland Education Award; recognises that this is a significant achievement for Mrs Galbraith and Annan Academy; considers this to be an impactful example of Annan leading the way in LGBTQ+ inclusive education; understands that the 2026 Proud Scotland Awards ceremony was a well-deserved celebration of the work people across Scotland are doing to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and recognises what it sees as the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in Scotland’s schools.

That the Parliament recognises and celebrates The Gralloch 2026, which was held from 15 to 17 May 2026; notes that it is Scotland’s premier gravel cycling festival and takes place in and around Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries and Galloway; further notes that the event forms part of the prestigious UCI Gravel World Series and attracts international competitors alongside community participants; acknowledges the event’s setting in the outstanding natural environment of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere; commends the organisers, volunteers and local community for delivering a successful three-day festival of sport, culture and outdoor activity; recognises the significant economic benefits to the South of Scotland, including an estimated £2 million annual impact, and welcomes the continued growth of The Gralloch as a flagship sporting and tourism event that highlights Dumfries and Galloway as a world-class destination for cycling and outdoor recreation.

That the Parliament congratulates Jo Wright, a teacher at Hardgate Primary School in Dumfries and Galloway, on being named Eco-Coordinator of the Year at the 2026 Eco-Schools Scotland awards; recognises her outstanding leadership in embedding environmental education across the entire school community; notes her success in engaging fellow staff, local groups and the wider community in environmental initiatives; recognises her work to transform a previously underused woodland into a valued outdoor learning environment for pupils and residents, and thanks Jo for inspiring young people in Dumfries and Galloway to value, protect and enhance their natural environment.